As someone kindly pointed out, the new Charter does create a Commissioner of General Services position. That Charter will be effective July 2016. Frankly, we had completely forgotten about the new Charter. How something so exciting can be forgotten, we don't understand it!
So, we decided to take a look at just what the department and the position is all about. Perhaps we'll even apply.
§ C54. Department of General Services
A. Establishment. There shall be a Department of General Services in the executive branch of City government. The Department shall include a Bureau of Engineering, a Bureau of Traffic Control, a Bureau of Streets, a Bureau of Sanitation, a Bureau of Parks and Recreation, a Bureau of Buildings, a Bureau of Code Enforcement, and a Central Garage.
What can the Commissioner do?
B. Commissioner of General Services. There shall be a Commissioner of General Services who shall be head of the department and shall have supervision and control of the entities enumerated in paragraph “A” herein. The Commissioner shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the City Council, to serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and may appoint, with the approval of the
Mayor, a City Engineer, a Traffic Engineer, a Superintendent of Streets and Sanitation, a Director of Code Enforcement., and a Director of Parks and Recreation.
Are there any qualifications for the position? Funny you should ask.
C. Qualifications of Commissioner. The Commissioner of General Services shall possess at least a bachelor’s degree in management or logistics, or an equivalent degree, from an accredited four year college or university, and shall have had at least five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in public works administration or equivalent fields prior to appointment.
Logistics majors rejoice!
The commissioner, with approval of the Mayor, can combine certain bureaus and duties. The Commissioner can also be the City Engineer if the appointee happens to meet the qualifications to be the City Engineer.
Under the new Charter there has to be a City Engineer, a Director of Parks and Recreation a Bureau of Buildings and a Central Garage. The other positions are discretionary.
Under Section 56 of the Charter, there shall be a Department of Planning and Economic Development and there may be a Commissioner of that department. If there isn't, the Deputy Mayor can fulfill that role.
It appears that the Commissioner of General Services could have an inordinate amount of power within the administration. If you'll note, the Commissioner, with the approval of the mayor (but not the City Council) can appointment numerous individuals as well as mix-in-match bureaus and duties.
This may be the position to have if you want to control the maximum amount of the city's day-to-day business. The qualifications mandate could prove problematic. First, has anyone ever met someone who had a bachelor's degree in logistics? There could be less degrees in that discipline than in Medieval Balkan Poetry. We think they'll need to rely on the "or an equivalent degree" provision more often than not.
Also, exactly what will the Deputy Mayor do? Well, it looks like the Deputy Mayor will really be the Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development. The Deputy Mayor cannot be expected to be, essentially, a Department head and also oversee everything the Commissioner of General Services does.
Finally, as an aside, given the qualification necessary for the Commissioner of General Services, it remains doubtful that the person filling that position could also operate as Madden's political insider. That political street fighter we believe is necessary for any administration. That's the person who understands Troy City government as well as political history. Here, that can't be Madden, Glasheen, Monica K. and it's unlikely to be the Commissioner of General Services.
We could be wrong but we think Madden doesn't the gun necessary for the knife fight.
Perhaps we overestimate the power and influence a strong Commissioner of General Services may have. Does anyone else think too much power may be concentrated in this position? Does anyone care?
24 comments:
The position of Commissioner of General Services will be filled by Kevin Vandenburgh. Kevin served with Madden and Glasheen on the successful charter review commission and a strong bond was created. Kevin also works well with Monica and will be the enforcer when people like Bill Dunne try to interfere with good government. You heard it here.
Bullshit ---he's got a 4yr degree in what?
I'd say he has a lifetime degree in Bullshit.
Makes perfectly good sense l
11:56 he has a four year degree in logistics from Siena College.
Shouldn't he have no outstanding tax bills or have been in good standing? Hmmmm
Siena? Maybe he ordered that sheepskin online. And wasn't he part of the Charter Commission that put this new, big paying job in the Charter? Smells like a well thought out scheme to me. Tammany Hall politics relived.
City hall will need a bigger truck for him
Madden has been instructed to fill the position with bill dunee
News of vandemburg as commissioner has Donovan peeling his pants like when the FBI came to town questioning Donovan's non kosher land purchase on gurley
Kevin will put little Donovan in his place. No more little man syndrome
Any way you spin it ---- adding a 70k÷ job, on top of tax increases across the board is just insane. And for what ---- a glorified babysitter? And if does happen, at least Vandenburghazilla lives in the city. He would be one of the few who actually do.
The Madden administration is well aware of the need of accountability in the streets of Troy as well as in city hall. The party's over. Time for a boss. Get the deadwood working. Rain in overtime. If he can do then so be it.
@7:25, he can use the truck Pickles used to use or he could borrow Fennel's.
George Rogers is King Of The World
Did kathy tell u that vito?
There is always someone who smells a plot, someone who assumes everyone has nefarious motives. 5:49 you seem to be that type of person. I understand, given the history of Troy politics that you would be cynical, but I think the people on the charter commission were good citizens volunteering their time to help put our city back on it's feet. Lucky for us they were smart, dedicated people with, GASP! experience in logistics. This new "big paying job" is replacing one that was just cut, so it is net -net zero in cost to the city. One of the reasons that good people don't get more involved in politics is because of people like you who immediately accuse and insinuate and attack whenever there is change or new thinking.
No vince did
The other reason people don't get involved is people like McAsswipe, who spread things that can't even be called rumors because he dreams things in his tiny brain. He should concentrate on paying off his tax warrants so good citizens don't have to pick up the slack. People who conspire to destroy cities? How about people who can't pay their way?
It does sound like a position that, in the wrong hands, could have too much power. Why doesn't the council get to confirm all department heads, like before.
I agree that the charter commission was pretty good, though. There wasn't all the fanfare like before. I guess it goes to show how toxic Harry was towards the end of things. I don't believe this charter was much different than the one he proposed.
Give Lil Kev credit. He nailed the election by predicting the Jim Gordon win. Unlike this blog, that was only able to predict the election down to almost the percentages won by each candidate.
He's already been in meetings at city hall. Just watch at city hall when ever Madden shows up then Vandenberg is there 10 min latter. He and Monica are very close that is true.
Mirrrrrrrrtch! THE MAN for the job.
6:47 Agreed. We need more employee intimidation.
When did Mirch add a T to his name?
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